Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a rare and progressive autoimmune disorder that is characterized by muscle rigidity and involuntary spasms, which may lead to significant patient disability. To date, there is limited information on inpatient care for SPS. The objectives of this study were to describe national inpatient care for stiff person syndrome in the United States and to examine the likelihood and causes of being readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Using nationally representative health claims data from the United States (2013), we identified inpatient visits where a SPS diagnosis was made and the patient was subsequently discharged alive. The 30-day readmission rate was then calculated and primary reasons for readmission were quantified. Secondary analyses examined whether readmissions were to the same hospital. There were a total of 1,094 inpatients visits where SPS was diagnosed, with 19.4% of cases being readmitted to hospital within 30 days of discharge. SPS was the admitting diagnosis for 27.4% of initial visits, but only 14.0% of readmissions. Readmissions were primarily for neurological conditions (22.9%), epilepsy/convulsions (5.9%), septicemia (5.2%), pneumonia (4.7%), diabetes mellitus with complications (4.0%), and respiratory failure (3.8%). Length of stay was comparable between index events (7.0 days) and readmissions (6.4 days). Among readmissions, 27.4% presented to a different hospital. Hospital readmissions among individuals with SPS are relatively common, and include potential disease complications or medical conditions associated with SPS. Our finding of readmission to a different hospital may reflect specialty care patterns or gaps in discharge planning. Future studies are needed to determine the extent to which readmissions in SPS patients are avoidable.